Module tray system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a module tray system, in particular for the storage of medication and products for medical purposes, comprising a tray having a base and side walls and comprising dividers which can be adjustably inserted into the tray perpendicular to the base, with the dividers each being held by means of push-on clips on the respectively smooth side walls, and with each push-on clip comprising at least one clip pin with which the push-on clip can be inserted into an associated perforation in the tray.

The invention relates to a module tray system, in particular for the storage of medication and products for medical purposes.

Module tray systems of this type are used to a large extent in the health sector, for example in hospitals and old people's homes. Module tray systems usually comprise a tray having a base and side walls and dividers which can be adjustably inserted into the tray perpendicular to the base. The tray can also be configured in the form of baskets. The usual module sizes are standardized in accordance with ISO or DIN. According to the ISO standard, the modules have a size of 60×40 cm, whereas the DIN standard dimension is 54×50 cm. Corresponding tray systems are also offered in special sizes. The module tray systems as a rule have flange-like edges and are pushed in a horizontal or slanting manner into carrier walls with slots. They are secured against falling out via corresponding stoppers. The carrier walls in the module tray system can, for example, comprise recyclable moldings made of acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene polymer which are screwed at both sides into cabinets such as high cabinets, drawer cabinets or hanging cabinets, shelves and/or trolleys.

The module tray systems and/or baskets are manufactured from different plastics in deep drawn manner or injection molded or made of rilsan coated wire. The trays have slots or projecting elements inwardly in the region of their side walls and the dividers can be inserted into them. A major disadvantage of these slots consists of the fact that dirt collects in them which can only be removed again with difficulty. With baskets, the dividers are clipped or pushed onto corresponding webs of the baskets. The dividers held correspondingly in the side walls can be bent on strain, for example by heavy parts stored in the module tray system and can be pressed out of the slot region in the side wall in an unwanted manner.

If no slots are provided in the region of the side wall, so-called load inserts can be placed into the module which can be removed as required. It is a question of a plastic frame into which longitudinal rails and cross-dividers, which can optionally be variably adjustably, are inserted. This embodiment, however, has the disadvantage that the peripheral plastic frame, which is disposed adjacent to the side walls of the tray, requires unnecessary room. Even though smooth walls are generally preferred due to hygiene and in particular to the better variability, the use of the aforesaid load insert is disadvantageous due to this loss of space.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a module tray system in which the trays comprise a base and side walls which are configured as smooth, with dividers being able to be inserted adjustably in a fine grating adjustable perpendicular to the base, with the space of the module tray system being able to be used as much as possible for the storage of the storage product.

This object is solved in accordance with the invention by the combination of the features of claim 1. Accordingly, starting from a module tray system having the features of the preamble of claim 1, the object is solved in that the dividers are in each case held at the side walls, which are formed smooth in each case, by means of push-on clips, with each push-on clip including at least one clip pin with which the push-on clip can be pushed into an associated perforation in the tray. The clip pins of the push-on clip engage, in accordance with the present invention, from top to bottom into the perforation provided in the tray. The perforation is finely structured so that the push-on clip, and thus the divider, can be placed at the desired point here by pulling out of the perforation and pushing into a desired further hole of the perforation. The dividers can be fixedly connected to the wall on the basis of this push-on clip system. When the divider is strained, for example by goods impacting on it or on the removal of the goods, it is now no longer moved out of its position and can also no longer jump out of any retaining groove. The divider is also fixedly held in its position by the push-on clip so that it cannot be displaced upwardly. There is therefore no risk that thin storage articles such as paper and blister packs slip into an adjacent compartment in an unwanted manner.

Both the embodiments as a tray and as dividers of the same construction can be equipped in a particularly advantageous manner.

Preferred aspects of the invention result from the dependent claims following on from the main claim.

Accordingly, a latchable spring mechanism is advantageously integrated in the push-on clip. The latchable spring mechanism can comprise at least one barb which is latchable in the perforation.

The push-on clip can thus be pulled upwardly out of its position by the user with a corresponding unlatching of the spring mechanism. Vice versa, it can be fixedly latched into the respective perforation in a simple manner after the pushing in of the clip pin and of the barb into the respective perforation.

It is of particular advantage for the push-on clip to have a hoop engaging over the side wall. A stable holding of the push-on clip in all directions is hereby achieved.

A push-on clip is advantageously arranged at each end of the divider. A particularly firm anchorage of the divider can thereby be achieved.

The push-on clip and the divider can be configured integrally. In accordance with an alternative embodiment variant, the push-on clip and the divider can, however, also be configured in multiple parts and able to be plugged together. In this variant, it is advantageous for a U-shaped hoop for the reception of the divider to be formed at the push-on clip. For a better connection between the divider and the push-on clip, at least one pin can be formed within the U-shaped hoop, said pin engaging into at least one corresponding bore in the divider in the pushed-on position. A stable connection between the divider and the push-on clip is thereby achieved.

In accordance with a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the perforation can be arranged in the base of the tray. It is an advantage of this embodiment variant that the tray can be cleaned in a washing unit in a simple manner. The dirt collecting in the bores would correspondingly fall through the bore in a washing unit.

If, however, a tray should be provided which is secure against outflow, the perforation can also be arranged in a step of the side wall. In this case, the base edge would be configured in a sealing manner so that no liquid can flow out.

A third possibility of the arrangement of the perforation would be to arrange it at the upper rim of the tray. Here, the clip would have to be correspondingly shaped with the corresponding barb to ensure an engagement of the barbs in the respective perforation.

An undercut is advantageously provided in the respective bores for the reception of the latchable spring mechanism of the push-on clips. It is hereby ensured that the respective latch hooks do not project downwardly out of the bores.

The module tray system of the present invention can be provided in different depths in accordance with the invention. The possibility thus presents itself with a comparatively more shallow module tray system to provide the bores in the base, whereas with a comparatively deeper module tray system, the bores can be arranged in a step in the side wall. The module sizes can be selected in this connection such that push-on clips of the same construction size can be used in each case.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the tray can have a flange-like rim which springs back downwardly in the rim region of the tray while forming a wall which can be engaged around by the hoop of the push-on clip. The trays are usually held in the side walls of the shelf, of the cabinet or of the trolley via this flange-like rim.

The trays of the module tray system can be configured either in a closed manner or also with openings in the form of baskets.

A longitudinal divider can, for example, be held in a tray via two push-on clips and sliding dividers aligned perpendicular to it can in turn be seated on it. This embodiment makes it possible to remove the total subdivision by taking the sliding divider out of the tray and by reinserting it as required. Due to this embodiment, the tray can, for example, be cleaned in a simple manner, without the total sliding dividers having to be removed individually and having to be reassembled before insertion.

A plural of dividers arranged parallel to one another can be inserted in a tray. Sliding dividers known per se can be seated on the dividers perpendicular thereto.

Alternatively, other dividers can be plugged into one another perpendicular to the dividers via slots arranged in each case in the dividers so that so-called crossed dividers result here. This embodiment variant is admittedly comparatively less flexible in its subdivision, but is in turn a very stable embodiment variant.

Finally, respective bores can also be provided in the region of a divider such that the push-on clips can be pushed onto them. In accordance with this embodiment variant, the push-on clips cannot only be pushed onto the side walls, but also onto dividers since, in the region of these dividers, corresponding bores are provided in the tray base or in steps of the dividers. The bores in the base region could, for example, also be realized by rails which can be placed on the tray base and which contain the corresponding bores.

In accordance with the present invention, comparatively thin dividers can be used. Whereas in accordance with the prior art dividers made from plastic with a wall thickness of 5 mm are usually used, the material thicknesses can be reduced to a wall thickness of 3 mm due to the increased stability of the holding of the dividers.

In accordance with a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the sliding clip and the divider can be made of different materials. The clip can thus, for example, be injection molded from plastic, whereas the divider comprises another plastic of higher quality or of another plastic of lower quality for cost reasons. With increased strength demands on the divider, it can, for example, also be made from aluminum or from another material of higher strength.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from embodiments shown in the drawing. There are shown:

FIG. 1: a perspective representation of a tray of a first embodiment variant of the module tray system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2: a section along a part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3: a push-on clip, as is used in an embodiment variant in accordance with FIG. 1, in a plan view, as well-as three sections along the section line A, the section line B and the section line C;

FIG. 4: a perspective view of the push-on clip of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5: a perspective representation of a tray of a second embodiment variant of the module tray system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6: the representation in accordance with FIG. 5 in a modified embodiment;

FIG. 7: a sectional representation through a part of the tray in accordance with FIG. 5;

FIG. 8: a perspective representation through a sectioned part of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9: a further embodiment variant of a tray in accordance with FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10: in turn, a further embodiment of a tray in accordance with the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 5.

A first embodiment variant of the module tray system is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The module tray system first consists of a tray 10 which, in the embodiment shown here, is produced from ABS (acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene polymer). The tray has a base 12 and side walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 surrounding it. A peripheral flange 22 is shaped in each case at the upper rim of the side walls.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, dividers 24 are connected to the side walls 18 and 20 via push-on clips 26 in FIG. 1. The tray 10 is hereby given a longitudinal division. In the embodiment shown here, sliding dividers 28 are provided on the dividers 24 aligned perpendicular thereto for the transverse division. The sliding dividers 28 are already known as such and do not require any further explanation here.

The more precise structure of the push-on clips 26 and the manner of securing of the dividers 24 via the respective push-on clips 26 can be seen from FIGS. 2 to 4. In the section in accordance with FIG. 2, a part of the tray 10 can be seen with a part of the base 12 and of the side wall 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the side wall does not extend perpendicular to the base 12, but is slightly outwardly chamfered. In the transition from the base 12 to the side wall 20, a hole bore 30 is shown which is part of a perforation extending over the total length of the side walls. A respective undercut 32 is provided in the bore, as drawn in FIG. 2. The upper flange-like rim 22 has a recess 34 so that a projection 37 is formed in the direct rim region of the wall 20.

The structure of the push-on clip 26 results from FIG. 3. It comprises a substantially plate-like part 34 which first has two clip pins 36 at the lower end, on the one hand, which can be pushed into corresponding bores 30 of the perforation in the region of the side walls 14, 16, 18 and 20. A hoop 38 engaging over the projection 37 is shaped on the oppositely disposed side. A spring mechanism 40 in the form of a resilient tongue is cut out centrally and two barbs 42 are shaped at its lower end. In the region of the tongue forming the latchable spring mechanism 40, a round projection 44 is shaped which serves as a pressure point for the user for the actuation of the spring mechanism, that is to unlatch the barbs 42. It can be seen from FIG. 2 how the push-on clip 26 is inserted into the side wall 20. The push-on clip 26 is held with its hoop 38 engaging around the side wall 20 in the upper region, whereas it is fixed in the corresponding bores 30 of the perforation via the pushed in clip pins 36. An unintentional sliding out of the bore 30 is prevented by the latching of the barbs 42 beneath the respective undercut 32 In the bore. By a corresponding pressing onto the projection 44, the latchable spring mechanism 40 can be unlatched again simply when the push-on clip should be removed with the divider 24. The push-on clip 26 has a U-shaped hoop 46 running in a perpendicular manner toward the plate 34 to hold the divider 24 tight. Said hoop clamps around the end of the divider 24 and holds it tight. Another pin, which extends through a bore of the divider, can additionally be provided in the U-shaped hoop 46 for the securing of the divider 24 in the U-shaped hoop 46.

Alternative aspects of corresponding trays 10 are shown with reference to FIGS. 5. to 10. These further alternative embodiments of the trays each relate to trays having a construction depth of 100 mm. They differ from the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 in that here a respective step 50 is provided in the otherwise smooth side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 and the perforation for the reception of the clip pins of the push-on clip 26 are arranged in said step. A sealed, non-perforated embodiment hereby results in the lower rim region between the wall 14, 16, 18 and 20 and the base 12 so that the trays in the embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 10 are liquid-tight. The step 50 is provided approximately half-way in the wall height, that is at approx. 50 mm. Push-on dividers 26 of a uniform constructional size such as can also be used with the comparatively lower made trays 10 in accordance with FIG. 1 (with a construction depth of 50 mm) can hereby be used. The structure of the push-on clip 26 such as is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 corresponds to that of FIGS. 2 and 4 and does not require any further statement. It can in particular be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8 that the respective bore 30 is provided in the step 50 here. Whereas the clip 26 has the same size as in FIG. 2, in the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 7, the divider 24 is twice as high as that in accordance with FIG. 2.

As can be seen from FIG. 7, the lower side wall has a slope of 1.5°, whereas the side wall 20 after the step 50 has a slope of 5°. With known trays, a slope of 5° is observed over the total height of the side wall to ensure a stacking capability. A mold removal slope of 1.5° would actually suffice for technical molding reasons. The embodiment of the tray shown here with a step 50 now makes it possible to provide at least the lower part of the side wall 20 only with the mold removal slope of 1.5°. The stacking capability is ensured here by the provision of the step 50. Due to the smaller slop of 1.5° instead of 5° which can be realized at least in the lower region of the side wall 20, the space utilization of the tray is improved.

FIGS. 6, 9 and 10 now comprise different possibilities for the design of cross-dividers. In the embodiment variant in accordance with FIG. 6, a tray 10 is shown having a divider 24 which generally corresponds to that in accordance with FIG. 5. A cross-divider 28 is now additionally provided here which is seated on the divider 24 as a sliding divider. It is, however, connected at its free end to the side wall 16 via a further push-on clip 26 to improve the stabilization.

In contrast, in the embodiment variant in accordance with FIG. 9, which generally likewise corresponds to that in accordance with FIG. 5 and comprises a divider 24, only a sliding divider 28 is placed on the divider 24 whose end disposed opposite the divider 24 is not again anchored to the wall 16. An embodiment variant of this type presents itself for the storage of light objects in the corresponding compartments which are formed, whereas the aspect in accordance with FIG. 6 is suitable for the storage of heavier objects since the cross-divider 28 is secured fixed against displacement in the tray 10 by the corresponding push-on clip.

In accordance with the aspect in accordance with FIG. 10, a tray 10 of the constructional shape in accordance with FIG. 5 is contained in which the divider 24 has incisions 52 extending approximately half way and into which cross-dividers 29 with likewise correspondingly provided incisions can be inserted so that a corresponding cross-division results here. Both the dividers 24 and the cross-dividers 29 are connected by push-on clips 26 to the walls 14 or 16 and 18 or 20. 

1. A module tray system, in particular for the storage of medication and products for medical purposes, comprising a tray having a base and side walls and dividers which can be adjustably inserted into the tray perpendicular to the base, wherein the dividers are each held by means of push-on clips on the respective side walls, with each push-on clip comprising at least one clip pin with which the push-on clip can be inserted into an associated perforation in the tray.
 2. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, characterized in wherein a latchable spring mechanism is integrated in the push-on clip.
 3. A module tray system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the latchable spring mechanism comprises at least one barb which can be latched in the perforation.
 4. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, one of the claims wherein the push-on clip comprises a hoop engaging around the side wall.
 5. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a push-on clip is arranged at each end of the divider.
 6. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the push-on clip and the divider are integrally configured.
 7. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the push-on clip and the divider are configured in multiple parts and to be able to be plugged together.
 8. A module tray system in accordance with claim 7, wherein a U-shaped hoop is formed at the push-on clip for reception of the divider.
 9. A module tray system in accordance with claim 8, wherein at least one pin is formed within the U-shaped hoop and engages into at least one corresponding bore, possibly a slot, in the divider in the pushed-on position.
 10. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the perforation is arranged in the base of the tray.
 11. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the perforation is arranged in a step of the side wall.
 12. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the perforation is arranged in the upper rim of the tray.
 13. A module tray system in accordance with claim 3, wherein an undercut is provided in the respective bores for the reception of the latch hooks of the latchable spring mechanism of the push-on clip.
 14. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tray has a flange-like rim which springs back downwardly in the rim region of the tray while forming a rim which can be engaged around by the hoop of the push-on clip.
 15. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the trays are configured substantially in closed form.
 16. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the trays comprise openings and thus form a basket.
 17. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of dividers arranged parallel to one another are inserted in a tray.
 18. A module tray system in accordance with claim 17, wherein sliding dividers are seated on the dividers aligned perpendicular thereto.
 19. A module tray system in accordance with claim 17, wherein dividers can be pushed into one another perpendicular to the dividers via respective slots arranged in the dividers.
 20. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein bores are provided in the region of a divider such that the push-on clips can be pushed onto it.
 21. A module tray system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the side walls are smooth. 